Term | Definition |
Third heart sound (S3) | Result of rapid ventricular filling during diastole
Can be normal in <30 year olds
Seen in LVF, dilated cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis (known as pericardial knock) |
Fourth heart sound (S4) | Atrial contraction against a stiff ventricle
Seen in aortic stenosis, HOCM, hypertension |
Signs of constrictive pericarditis | JVP - X Y descents, Y descent due to rapid early diastolic filling of right ventricle
Third heart sound (pericardial knock) |
Signs of cardiac tamponade | Raised JVP with prominent x descent, absent y descent
Kussmaul's sign (raised JVP with inspiration)
Tachycardia, hypotension and pulsus paradoxus (decreased pulse pressure during inspiration)
Faint heart sounds |
Mitral regurgitation | Floppy valve: Marfan's, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Ehlers Danlos and osteogenesis imperfecta
Dilation of mitral ring: dilated cardiomyopathy (alcohol), acute myocarditis, HCOM
Papillary muscle rupture |
12 lead ECG | V1 - right ventricle
V3,4 - interventricular septum
V5,6 - left ventricle
2,3, AVF - inferior surface
1, AVL, V6 - lateral wall of left ventricle
Axis -30 to +90 degree |
Tietze's syndrome | Inflammation of costosternal junctions with associated tenderness
Rx NSAIDs and reassurance |
Heart failure drugs | Prognostic:
Selective Beta Blockers (bisoprolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, nebivolol), ACE inhibitors, ARBs (candesartan, valsartan), Spironolactone (if not high K+), Ivabradine
Symptomatic:
Loop diuretics, digoxin, nitrates + hydralazine |
Cardiac arrest causes | Ventricular Fibrillation (commonest), asystole (absent QRS) and electromechanical dissociation / pulseless electrical activity (PEA) |
Causes of pulseless electrical activity /electromechanical dissociation | Four H's - hypovolaemia, hypothemia, hypoxia and hypo/hyper-kalaemia (plus hypocalcaemia and acidaemia)
Four T's: cardiac tamponade, PE, tension pneumothorax, toxic/therapeutic disturbances |
SVT management | If haemodynamically unstable - DC cardioversion
If not, vagotonic manoeuvres, IV adenosine (CI in asthma) |
Phaeochromocytoma | Tumor of adrenal gland - rule of 10%:
10% extramedullary, 10% malignant, 10% familial, 10% bilateral
Management is surgical
Can control BP with alpha block like phenoxybenzamine |
Beri Beri | B1 (thiamine) deficiency. Endemic in regions that only eat white rice that has been de-husked (husk contains thiamine)
Weight loss, high output cardiac failure, wernicke's encephalopathy, sensory disturbances, pain / weakness in limbs
RX IM thiamine |
Wernicke's encephalopathy | B1 (thiamine) deficiency.
Triad of - ocular disturbances (nystagmus, paralysis of lateral rectus), changes in mental state, unsteady stance and gait. |
Korsakoff's syndrome | Acute onset, severe memory impairment
Anterorade amnesia, aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, deficit in executive functions. Must be evidence caused by use of alcohol. |
Ivabradine | Reduces K and Na influx to cells in SA node via 'I-funny' channel - leading to reduction of heart rate.
Shown to be as effective as atenolol at controlling angina.
S/e - luminous haloes seen around objects |
Pulmonary hypertension | RV strain on ECG, high pulmonary artery systolic pressure (> 30mmHg) |
Mitral stenosis | Rumbling low pitched, mid diastolic murmur, opening snap suggests severe disease. Mitral facies (malar flush), AF, Tapping apex (palpable S1), loud S1. |
Aortic stenosis | Crescendo-decrescendo, ejection systolic murmur |
Marfan syndrome | Autosomal dominant (chromosome 15) defect of connective tissue. Defect in FBN1 gene coding for protein fibrillin 1. Skeletal disease. cardiac defects (aortic dilatation, aortic incompetence, mitral valve prolapse) and risk for PSP. |
DiGeorge syndrome | Deletion of a long arm of chromosome 22. CATCH-22
C - cardiac (incl tetralogy of fallot)
A - abnormal facies
T - thymoma (increased infections)
C - cleft palate
H - hypocalcaemia / hypoparathyroidism
22 - 22nd chromosome |
Kartagener syndrome | Primary ciliary dyskinesia. Chronic sinusitis, bronchiectasis, infertility, dextracardia |
Pulsus alternans | Alternating pulse with weak and strong beats. Seen in patients with severe heart failure and is associated with poor prognosis |
Collapsing pulse | Seen when pulse pressure is greater than diastolic pressure. Seen in aortic regurgation, PDA or AV fistula |
Hyperkalaemia | ECG - small P waves, peaked T waves, wide QRS with sinusoidal wave pattern. Can progress to asystole |
Hypokalaemia | ECG - U waves, small/absent T waves, long QT, ST depression, raised PR interval |
Tetralogy of Fallot | RVH, pulmonary stenosis, over-riding aorta, VSD |
Management of acute LVF | sit patient up - O2 - IV access - Iv diamorphine, metoclopramide and frusemide - catheter - nitrates - CPAP |
ECG electrode positions | V1 - 4th intercostal space, right of sternum
V2 - 4th intercostal space, left of sternum
V3 - halfway between V2 and V4
V4 - Apex
V5 - same horizontal plane as V4, anterior axillary line
V6 - same horizontal plane as V4, mid-axillary line |
Tricuspid regurgitation | Raised JVP with large V-waves
Pansystolic murmur, left sternal edge |